Serve these homemade refried beans on tacos or burritos, with chips, or as a side dish. They freeze well, too!
Course
Side Dish
Ingredients
6cupscooked pinto beans(2 cups OR 1 lb when dry)
1/3cupbacon grease or butter
1red onionchopped
4clovesgarlicminced
2tspcumin
1tspsalt*
1tsppaprika
Liquid of your choice: milk, chicken broth, or liquid from canned or cooked beans
Instructions
In a large pot or cast-iron skillet, melt the bacon grease over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute for 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes.
Add beans, cumin, salt, paprika, and 3/4 cup liquid to pot. Stir well. Bring to a simmer, then turn down to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Use a potato masher or hand blender to mash beans until they reach the desired consistency. If beans are too dry, add additional liquid. If beans are too wet, let them simmer for a little longer to absorb more liquid. Add additional salt and spices as needed. (*We don't like ours too salty, so you might find that this recipe needs more salt, depending on how salty your bacon grease is.)
Recipe Notes
Our favourite salt to use in all our cooking is Real Salt!